Donald is well and missing the East Village

On Dec. 30, I wrote a post on Donald, a longtime East Village resident who had been evicted from his home earlier in the fall. I was unaware of what had happened to him.

This week, I was grateful that Neil Janowitz, one of Donald's former neighbors on East Fifth Street, sent me a note with updates... Neil has visited Donald several times the last six weeks or so. Neil also filled in some of the biographical information that I was curious about (and he provided me with the new photos on this post). "His full name is Donald Baumgartner, he's 58 years old and he loves himself some Jackie Gleason," Neil told me.



What follows are some excerpts from an e-mail exchange between me and Neil:

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I was out of town when he got evicted, and came home to find an eviction notice on his door. Our landlord confirmed that he had been evicted, but would or could not tell me where he had been relocated. A few weeks later, I happened across an old entry in the journal that described Donald telling me about 11 Park Place, which he said was the source of his money. ... They informed me he was in the psychiatric ward at Bellevue, and that they were looking for a place to permanently move him.

I visited Donald at Bellevue in late December. The man looked good, but was hell-bent on getting out. He asked a lot about 5th Street — about his old apartment (it's being extensively renovated by an eastern European construction crew that has an affinity for Lady Gaga tunes), the tenants in our building ... We spoke for a half hour, and I left him with my phone number. A couple weeks later, he told me during a call that he was being discharged on January 12. I asked where he would be going, and he said he didn't know.

A week after that, I got a collect call from Donald. Figuring I could just call him back at Bellevue, I declined the charges and called his ward. The nurse on duty told me he had indeed been discharged that afternoon. I asked where he was. She said she didn't know.

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I panicked briefly about having refused Donald's call, but he tried again five minutes later. I accepted, and he told me he was at East Haven Nursing Home in the Bronx. Way up in the Bronx. He gave me the address, and a friend, Molly, and I visited him on Saturday. For reasons the receptionist couldn't disclose he is considered a "high alert" patient, meaning Molly and I couldn't talk to him in private. We had to drag a bench and chair into the lobby and catch up with him there. He's even saltier about being in the nursing home than he was about Bellevue, and spent the majority of the visit asking Molly and I to write a letter to the resident social working requesting his discharge. He then showed me a note the social worker had given him. It said he would be discharged on July 2. I have to wait and speak to the social worker to find out where he'll go at that point.

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Donald never mentioned any family other than his sister, Anne (died in January '08), his mom, Anna (died in 1993) and his father, whose name Donald either didn't know or didn't want to share. He didn't get along with his father, who died in 1968.

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I know he had been in the 511 E. Fifth St. apartment for 25 or 30 years, and prior to that was in another building on 5th Street ... His place in 511 was a trip. Like a time warp. No one had renovated it in two or three decades, so it had a bathtub in the kitchen, two interior bedrooms with windows that looked out on the living room and lots of built-in cabinets and trunks. The floor was so badly worn that you could see various layers / flooring styles dating back an unknowable amount of time.

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I spoke to Donald last night. In case it interests you. He lived at 82 Avenue B until 1967, at which point he moved into 511 E. 5th. He also attended junior high school at JHS 104, on 20th St., but didn't complete it.

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Yeah, he's jonesing for the East Village. He asked if he could move in with me. Though, interestingly, when I asked where else he would want to live, he mentioned Brooklyn. Said he's been scouring the Daily News for listings out there. But he didn't know which neighborhood he would want, and couldn't specify what he liked about Brooklyn.



Previously on EV Grieve:
Gone but not forgotten: Donald

Here comes Santa Claus...right in front of the Ninth Precinct....

A very nice event for the kids today on Fifth Street. They all seemed thrilled. I appreciate the community spirit.

Meanwhile, I did not have my sound monitoring equipment with me. At this hour around 10 a.m. or so, it seemed as if the sound was above the nominal 70 dB at 100 feet, the level the Ninth Precinct makes the bands in Tompkins Square Park adhere to...

East Fifth Street suddenly has new views

A new listing popped up Trulia (via HotPads) the other day for a $1 million condo on East Fifth Street in the 10009 zip .... complete with a Google street view of Fifth Street and Avenue A.

And the photos that accompanied the listing looked like this...



... with hotties in the pool and steam room!



Obviously a mistake giving the description is for something swank in Long Island City. Or maybe that last bender at Sophie's lasted a little longer than I remembered.

Le Gamin is now the Village Bistro East

Just yesterday, an EV Grieve reader asked:

I happened to walk by there [Wednesday] and it appears that the renovations are indeed continuing. The Le Gamin sign however, has mysteriously disappeared...

New name? New restaurant? New owners?

Here's what Eater had to report back on Sept. 28:

Just a quick note to assuage the East Villagers in the crowd. A number of readers have written in both here and on EV Grieve to report that Le Gamin on East 5th St. between Aves A and B—the last Le Gamin in Manhattan—has closed. A worker at Black Iron Burger Shop next door reports that no, they are just renovating, extensively. They will reopen with the same name but a different "theme" and a more "modern" look on October 10. Funnily enough, the restaurant closed for renos just one year ago when the original owner...

As the chalkboard sign shows, Le Gamin is now the Village Bistro East. It opened last night.




So... new name. New theme. Same owners.

Previously.

Claim: Tuesday night's DBS Volante Convertible party at the Cooper Square Hotel "brought enough complaints to bring in the police"

Just a quick follow-up to yesterday's Cooper Square Hotel post. I wanted to highlight two comments that came in later last night.



Anonymous said...
Just for the record, one of the stipulations of the hotel liquor license is, that given its proximity to to an assisted living facility and residential apartment building, the garden is to be "a quiet gathering place for patrons and guests." Last night's event brought enough complaints to bring in the police. When residents went to inquire for the hotel manager as recommended by Matt Moss at the meeting, she was "unavailable."


Goggla said...
I hate to think what will happen the next time one of those senior residents needs an ambulance (which I see there regularly), only to have it circle the block because the wagon train of limos is blocking the entrance.

Also, I reviewed the photos that I took.... I found these. As I recall, the young man in the backpack wanted to take a closer look at the Aston Martin on display. And why not?



So he looked around for a moment and decided to unhook the velvet rope and go in where the invite-onlys were congregating.



The security guard was on him in a second. The guard was ready to push him out the way he came in...



But the other security guard interjected and suggested that the young man be taken out properly through the hotel.



The security guards that I saw were much more tolerant of guests taking drinks onto the sidewalk to use their cell phones.

City's third Caffe Buon Gusto coming to Avenue B

As we noted yesterday (and thanks to reader Empire), the former Zips space on Avenue B and Fifth Street will be Caffe Buon Gusto...



Apparently there are two other locations in Manhattan -- one on 236 E. 77th St. and one at 1004 Second Ave. I'm not familiar with these places. The Caffe's Italian fare on one site gets pretty positive remarks, except from the last person who left a review. "The 'bruschetta' was served on toasted wonder bread!"

Anyway, to repeat what I wrote earlier....is there really a need for another Italian restaurant in the neighborhood?

Zips is now Caffe Buon Gusto

Many thanks to reader Empire for passing along a photo of the long-awaited debut of the former Zips space on Avenue B and Fifth Street:




More details as they become available. Previous Zips coverage on EV Grieve.

Residents discuss the problems created by the Cooper Square Hotel: Meanwhile, across the street, a party for a sports car

Last night, nearly 50 residents convened at the JASA/Green Residence to discuss concerns the impact that the Cooper Square Hotel has had on the neighborhood. (Jeremiah has been on the story with his must-read Notes from the Backside series.)



The event was organized by the East Fifth Street Block Association. Matthew Moss, principal of the Peck Moss Hotel Group, the developer of the $115 million Cooper Square Hotel, was there to field questions from the audience. Stuart Zamsky, head of the East Fifth Street Block Association, ran the meeting along with Carrie Schneider, whose apartment is a few feet away from the Cooper Square Hotel's much-discussed second-level bar area. CB3 District Manager Susan Stetzer was in attendance as was a representative from the office of Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer. (I was a few minutes late, and missed all the introductions.)



The meeting started cordially enough. There was talk about the smoke coming from the fireplace in the ground-floor library. "We will not use the fireplace until we figure out this smoke issue," Moss said. That was easy. Next!

Then the discussion turned to the contentious second-floor outdoor patio (there is no actual bar outside — guests can drink in the space, though). Although the patio officially closes at 9 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, 10 p.m. on Thursday and 10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday [UPDATE: These hours are incorrect — see the comments for the hours of operation], residents have said there are disturbed at all hours. For instance, guests have been able to access the area after hours and hotel employees have used the space as a breakroom to smoke and make cell-phone calls. Moss said that until the hotel can install a permanent gate at the landing of the main stairs leading to the terrace, a security guard has been hired to stand duty to prevent off-hour access. The presence of a security guard has helped curb some unwanted chatter, people thought.

Soon enough, though, things started to change. Maybe it was the increasingly warm community room in need of a breeze, the water fountain in the back that occasionally made a clanging noise...or maybe people were just tired of Moss mumbling. Every few sentences, people had to ask for him to speak up. It didn't help that Moss, an awkward public speaker, acted at times like a fraternity brother being scolded by his housemother for not picking up his dirty clothes.

"It sucks for the people who are here," Zamsky said of all the problems the hotel has created for residents. "It's not good."

Moss, who was prone to squirming, tugging at his lip and — a few times — rolling his eyes, said at one point, "There's nothing else for me to say. The responsibility lies with me... Anything I say is going to sound like an excuse."



Fifth Street residents talked about the lack of parking spaces now available to them and the limos that line up in the evenings. One woman in a wheelchair said their families can't find a place to park when they come to town for a visit. "You have nothing but excuses! You have created another problem for us."

Said Moss, "I don't doubt for a second that the hotel has some negative impact on the community. I'm also of the belief that there is some good that comes from" our presence. He didn't offer what that was.

Moss also said that the hotel has offered to pay to soundproof the windows for residents at 207 Fifth St. who are adjacent to the hotel and have suffered the most since the patio opened last month. "That's not a perfect solution," he admitted.

A representative from Scott Stringer's office, who arrived late, confirmed that Moss met with Stringer yesterday morning and put it in writing that the hotel is willing to pay to soundproof windows. [CORRECTION: The representative from Scott Stringer's office, Greg Kirschenbaum, did not indicate that Borough President Stringer met with Moss: he stated that Moss had reached out to him to offer the soundproofing and that Moss then provided that offer in writing. Stringer did not meet with Moss. We apologize for the error in reporting.] One problem, though: The landlord of 207 Fifth St. is not receptive to such an idea.

One resident said soundproofing windows just wasn't good enough. "You have a public space out there. There are public spaces such as libraries where even homeless people that hang out know you have to be quiet." He mentioned that management should tell the hotel guests to whisper while they're on the patio. Continued the resident, "The other thing about soundproof windows: You're suggesting that the people who live there will never want to open their windows."

The residents had more to say.



Moss looked as if he wanted to shrink inside his blue blazer. He was unprepared. He had no noticeable personality. He lacked the diplomatic skills necessary for the hospitality industry — or any industry. He had no answers to questions about the noise complaints and other quality-of-life issues raised during the meeting. "I don't know...We need to figure out how to make it work," he said. He wouldn't offer a timetable for possible solutions to the noise. "I don't even know what the solutions are going to be."

Someone mentioned the tactics used by residents to retaliate against the noise. "I don't think it's really relevant," Moss snapped. Another resident asked about the secret nightclub that was going to open in the Cooper Square Hotel. "It's not going to be a nightclub," Moss said. He called it a "supper club," which will be in the basement. "I'd be surprised if it happened this year," he said.

At this point, you get the idea. To be honest, so much was discussed during the 75-plus minutes that I was at the meeting. I didn't capture every complaint, every name, every possible solution from calling 311 to the hotel manager on duty. But I had a good snapshot of what has been happening to the residents living adjacent to the hotel. So I left.



I started thinking about the hardships that I heard that night. The woman in the wheelchair whose family can't find a place to park to visit her. The residents being kept up by the party-going hotel guests. I thought about the older man who cared enough to show up at the meeting with a sign of protest against the hotel. Later, he fell asleep in the back of the room near an open door.

So I walked out of the JASA/Green Residence, which faces the south side of the Cooper Square Hotel. And what was there waiting for all the concerned residents exiting the meeting?



An invitation-only party thrown by the 100 Thousand Club and Aston Martin to unveil the DBS Volante Convertible.

Just to spell this out for myself. The co-owner of the Cooper Square Hotel agreed to meet with concerned local residents about noise complaints and quality-of-life issues on the same night that his hotel was throwing a party for a $280,000 sports car.

The crowd was tan and fit. They all looked so happy with drinks in hand. (Jeremiah also witnessed the party: He has much more on the scene.)





Guests took turns sitting inside the car for photo opps.



A few of the residents who attended the meeting stood on the sidewalk by the Cooper's outdoor patio with incredulous looks on their faces. One man ran back inside to ask Moss if he was aware there were 200 people partying behind the hotel.



I saw three different people leave the patio and enter the sidewalk with drinks. The security on duty only seemed concerned with the non-guests gawking on the sidewalk. One guest walked east a few buildings on Fifth Street. He hiked his khaki-clad leg up on a railing while holding a bottle of Stella and talking on his cell phone. Meanwhile, chauffeured town cars double-parked on Fifth Street. Other cars idled in front of fire hydrants.



One driver shrugged off the threats of a resident who asked him to move. He continued talking on his cell phone.



By the way, the only time Moss ever offered an apology last night occured after he was asked to speak up so the people in the back of the room could hear him.

For further reading:
Raging Against the Coop: the Developer/Neighbor Faceoff (Eater)

Working sort of zipping along at the old Zips space

And as of Friday evening, a new paint job for what is expected to be an upscale diner-type place at Avenue B and Fifth Street...



And is black and blue the best color scheme for a new restaurant in this economy?

Previous Zips coverage here.

Old Zips space reveals....

Well, now. Finally some action at the former Zips location on Avenue B and Fifth Street... Work was going on inside for months... The neighborhood rumor was the space would become an upscale diner-type place....




Not so fast. As this photo from reader Empire shows...



As Empire notes, "Check out what has now been revealed from under the awning.. where it says 'Medical Office'?! Is that from BEFORE Zips? Hmmmmmm...."

Indeed! I double the Hmmmmmm...

A new door at Zips

And now a mysterious new door has been added to the side of the former Zips Deli space at Avenue B and Fifth Street. Possibly a door to enter and exit the kitchen for an upscale diner-type place...?



Previous Zips coverage on EV Grieve.

An independent film shoot at Sophie's

On Saturday morning, there was a small film crew assembled in front of Sophie's. Perhaps Bourdain was back for seconds?




Uh, nope...I asked one of the fellows standing there what was happening...he said it was a small independent film. This was their first day of shooting...and they were expecting to be done for the day by the opening 2 p.m. bell at Sophie's.

What's new around the Cooper Square Hotel: Sidewalk, lack of trees

After looking at E2E4 the other day, I swung by to check in on the progress of the Cooper Square Hotel. (I usually only go by for free ice.) Well! For starters, the sidewalk alongside the hotel's coming-soon garden (outdoor bar?) space on East Fifth Street is done....




...but not at the cost of a few trees.



And what is going on with this one?



Meanwhile, it's looking really glassy....





...and close to the neighbors.





Curbed had an update yesterday on the hotel and the ominous Wolverine claw....




P.S.
The hotel's VIP entrance still needs a little work...

Important notice about "partying" in Shaoul buildings on East Fifth Street and East Sixth Street

Spotted on 514-516 E. Sixth St. ... and the building behind on 515 E. Fifth St.






Click to enlarge, of course.

Update: And thanks to Jeremiah for pointing out these are the controversial Shaoul buildings. As The Villager reported in December:

The Board of Standards and Appeals ruled at the end of last month that the Department of Buildings was wrong to issue permits to add two extra floors to two East Village tenements.
The B.S.A. ruled that the additions to the five-story buildings at 515 E. Fifth St. and 514-516 E. Sixth St. violated the state’s 1929 Multiple Dwelling Law in regard to fire safety and elevator requirements.